Monthly Archives: July 2015

White House Conference on Aging

July 10, 2015Aging Life Care Professionals, Caregiving, Costs of Aging, Education, Elder Abuse, Elder Law, Events, Long-Term CareWHCOA Callie Daters

White House Conference on Aging
Monday, July 13th 10:00am – 4:30pm ET

The TENTATIVE agenda for July 13 is (all times are ET):

10:00 AM – 12:20 PM: Welcome; Opening Panels on Caregiving and Financial Security
*President Obama is scheduled to address the conference during this period

12:20 PM -1:20 PM: Lunch Break

1:20 PM – 4:30 PM: Afternoon Panel Discussions on Healthy Aging, Elder Justice and Technology

How Can You GET INVOLVED

Watch the event

They are live streaming the conference and encourage everyone to watch.

Share your story
Let us know why the issues discussed at the conference are important to you or how you plan to participate in the conference.

Interview an older adult
Download the StoryCorps app to record an interview with an older adult in your family or community. Upload the interview to archive it in the Library of Congress and share it on social media using the #WHCOA hashtag.

Host a Watch Party (PDF)
Invite your friends and colleagues to watch with you. Use the link above to find additional information on how to host a viewing session for the conference. If you plan to host a Watch Party, please register it here. To find a Watch Party near you, click here.

For details and for more information go to www.whitehouseconferenceonaging.gov

Aging in Place? Aging Life Care Professionals™ Help Keep You Home and Out of the Hospital

July 9, 2015Aging in Place, Aging Life Care Professionals, Alzheimer's, Dementia, GeriatriciansAging in Place, Aging Life Care Expert, Aging Well, Avoid Hospitalizations Callie Daters

Like many of her colleagues, Anne Sansevero, RN, AGNP, MA, CCM of New York, New York works with clients that are aging in place, at their home.

Anne’s specialty is helping clients with neurological issues, such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or stroke. As Anne shares here, it is her focus as an Aging Life Care Professional™ to keep her clients at home and out of the hospital. By visiting clients on a regular schedule, Aging Life Care Professionals can catch changes in a client’s health quickly, seek treatment, and coordinate care across the continuum.

WHAT IS AGING LIFE CARE™?

Aging Life Care / geriatric care management is a holistic, client-centered approach to caring for older adults or others facing ongoing health challenges. Working with families, the expertise of Aging Life Care Professionals provides the answers at a time of uncertainty. Their guidance leads families to the actions and decisions that ensure quality care and an optimal life for those they love, thus reducing worry, stress and time off of work for family caregivers through:

Assessment and monitoring
Planning and problem-solving
Education and advocacy
Family caregiver coaching

Aging Life Care Professionals are engaged to assist in a variety of areas, such as:

Housing – helping families evaluate and select appropriate level of housing or residential options
Home care services – determining types of services that are right for a client and assisting the family to engage and monitor those services
Medical management – attending doctor appointments, facilitating communication between doctor, client, and family, and if appropriate, monitoring client’s adherence to medical orders and instructions
Communication – keeping family members and professionals; informed as to the well-being and changing needs of the client
Social activities – providing opportunity for client to engage in social, recreational, or cultural activities that enrich the quality of life
Legal – referring to or consulting with an elder law attorney; providing expert opinion for courts in determining level of care
Financial – may include reviewing or overseeing bill paying or consulting with accountant or client’s Power of Attorney
Entitlements – providing information on Federal and state entitlements; connecting families to local programs
Safety and security – monitoring the client at home; recommending technologies to add to security or safety; observing changes and potential risks of exploitation or abuse

Local, cost-effective resources are identified and engaged as needed.

A care plan tailored for each individual’s circumstances is prepared after a comprehensive assessment. The plan may be modified, in consultation with client and family, as circumstances change.

To find an Aging Life Care™ Expert to help you or a loved one, search the Aging Life Care Association’s directory of members.

This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™ and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

Aging Life Care Association® Members on Keeping Clients Out of the Hospital

July 9, 2015Aging in Place, Aging Life Care Professionals, Aging Well, Anne Sansevero, Care Recipients, Caregiving, Guest Writer, Health, Long-Term Care, Supportaginglifecare, AgingWell, treatment ALCA Marketing

ALCA Member Anne Sansevero, RN, AGNP, MA, CCM of New York, New York shares the importance of managing the care of her clients across the continuum. By visiting her client regularly, she was able to notice and treat symptoms early resulting in keeping her client out of the hospital for 7 years. #AgingWell

Four Things Every Financial Manager Must Know When Advising Aging Adults

July 8, 2015Aging Life Care Professionals, Costs of Aging, Financial ManagersAging Life Care Expert, costs of aging, financial management, money Callie Daters

by Phyllis Mensh Brostoff, CISW, CMC – Aging Life Care Association™ Member and Fellow of the Leadership Academy

1. Long-term care is expensive, and there is a confusing maze of options when it comes to in-home and residential care. Financial managers must know the costs of long term care, in order to provide relevant guidance to older clients and their families.

2. Your prime directive has been helping clients save money. But when that “rainy day” comes, your clients may need your encouragement to begin to spend it. The savings you have helped them accumulate aren’t an end in themselves, but a means for your clients to be able to maintain a high quality of life, throughout their lifespan.

3. Clients and families are often unrealistic or over-anxious about how long their money needs to last. They project the cost of care for too many years into the future, without having a realistic understanding of their scenario. An experienced Aging Life Care Professional™ can provide you with relevant information to help you make the most accurate projections possible:

How old is your client?
How many chronic conditions does your client have?
How many medications does your client take, and how compliant are they?
Does your client live alone?
Is their home an appropriate setting for them to “age in place?”

4. An Aging Life Care Professional completes an in-person assessment with every client, and can work with you to develop a realistic plan for spending those hard earned savings in the most efficient and effective way possible.

If you are working with a client who needs a broader scope of services, contact a member of the Aging Life Care Association to ensure finding a professional with the expertise and experience to provide appropriate support, resources, and services. Our members subscribe to the highest standards of practice and code of ethics. Find an Aging Life Care™ expert near you at aginglifecare.org.

About the author: Phyllis Mensh Brostoff, CISW, CMC, is a social worker and co-founded Stowell Associates 31 years ago in Milwaukee, Wisconsin which provides care management and home care services. She has written numerous articles and presented seminars across the country. Follow her on Twitter at @CareManagerMilw, connect on Facebook, or email her at phyllisb@caremanagedhomecare.com.

This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, nor is it intended to be a substitute for, professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information on this blog does not necessarily reflect official positions of the Aging Life Care Association™and is provided “as is” without warranty. Always consult with a qualified professional with any particular questions you may have regarding your or a family member’s needs.

7 Warning Signs That Aging Loved Ones Need Help

July 2, 2015Aging Life Care Professionals, Aging Parentsaging adults, aging life care, aging parents, solutions Callie Daters

As a Record Number of Seniors Are Living Alone, Aging Experts Offer 7 Warning Signs to Look for During Summer Visits to Older Family Members and Friends

As millions of Americans travel during the summer, many adult children will spend time with their aging parents and loved ones. A record number of these older Americans are living alone. A government report found that 12.5 million older Americans — fully half of women age 75 or older — now live by themselves.

If you are traveling to visit family and “checking-in” on older loved ones this summer, it is important to look for signs that aging loved ones need help or attention.

To help, members of the Aging Life Care Association™ compiled this list of key questions to ask and warning signs to look for during your summer visit.

Look for these 7 potential warning signs that could mean your aging loved ones need medical attention or more assistance to continue living independently:

1. Changes in Physical Appearance: Do you notice either significant weight loss or weight gain? Do you notice any bumps or bruises that may indicate they have had falls?

2. Loss of Mobility: Do you notice any increased difficulty in walking or getting in and out of chairs/sofas? Do they appear less steady on their feet?

3. Decline in Home Cleanliness and Repair: Does their home look clean and well maintained or is it in need of cleaning and/or repairs? Is trash and/or clutter accumulating? Does it smell of urine or feces?

4. Reduced Ability to Prepare Healthy Meals: Do you notice a change in the kinds of foods they have (no more fresh fruits/vegetables, more frozen meals and canned goods)? Are their appliances like the stove, microwave and refrigerator in working order? Is there adequate food? Any spoiled food present?

5. Changes in Mood, Memory or Behavior: Do you notice your loved one constantly repeating things? Are you noticing increased confusion? Are you hearing from their friends that something has changed in their mood or behavior? Are they having difficulty carrying on an extended conversation? Are they showing irritability or apathy? Are they reporting more difficulty sleeping?

6. Changes in Routine: Do you notice stacks of unopened mail? Are bills not getting paid? Are medications being taken? Are prescriptions not being refilled? Are medical appointments being missed or follow-ups not being made? Have they cut back on outside/social activities.

7. Decline in Personal Hygiene: Are you noticing your loved one is unkempt, not dressing during the day like they used to; not showering and wearing dirty clothing when they do get dressed?

These are just a few warning signs that an older adult may need medical attention or other assistance. If one or more of these warning signs are detected, it might be time to bring in a professional to help.

Aging Life Care Professionals™ are an important resource to older adults and families who need assistance. With expertise and day-to-day experience in the community, Aging Life Care Professionals can guide aging adults and their families to the best decisions and best solutions. Beginning with an in-depth assessment, a care plan is created by the Aging Life Care Professional and family. Together, they arrive at the best possible options.

It is difficult for many adult children to navigate through the myriad of options, especially when they are at a distance, working, and/or raising their own children. Find an Aging Life Care™ Expert at aginglifecare.org so that you don’t have to go it alone.

Where Can I Go for Help with My Aging Parents?

July 1, 2015Aging Life Care Professionals, Aging Parents, Care Managers, Family Membersaging life care, aging parents Callie Daters

By Trish Colucci, RN-BC, CCM – Aging Life Care Association™ Member

Meet the Group of Professionals with the Expertise to Help Aging Adults and Families Live Well During the Aging Process

Where do you turn when you are worried about the care of your aging parents? There is a professional association of qualified, experienced experts that can partner with you and your loved one to make the best decisions and deliver the best solutions with respect to values, preferences, and resources.

The Aging Life Care Association™, formerly known as the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, formed in 1985 with approximately 50 members, made up mostly of social workers and nurses. Their vision was to provide top-quality consultative services for families looking for professional assistance and solutions to the challenges of caring for their elderly loved ones.

The organization has gone through several waves of growth and change throughout the years and today, the Aging Life Care Association boasts professional membership in excess of 2,000 members. Membership still includes social workers and nurses of course, but there are myriad professional disciplines represented today including gerontology, psychology, occupational and physical therapy.

With the tsunami of baby boomers expected to enter into senior citizenship in the near future, the need for professional assistance to meet the ongoing challenges of elder care is expected to dramatically rise. The members of the Aging Life Care Association are poised and ready to meet that demand.

These professionals, who may use titles such as “Aging Life Care™ Managers” or “Geriatric Care Managers” or “Aging Life Care Professionals”, vary in their service offerings, but all work from a common thread: helping families connect with the best, most appropriate resources for the care of their loved ones.

How do you know when it’s time to call an Aging Life Care Professional? Consider these “red flags”:

When your parent needs a higher level of support and supervision in the home.
When your parent is no longer able to manage his/her own personal and medical care, or medications.
When you are concerned about the safety of your parent’s driving.
When your parent can no longer remain at home, even with help, and is in need of more intensive services.
When your parent’s behavior becomes increasingly agitated or combative.
When you live far away and need a skilled set of eyes to monitor your parent’s ever-changing condition.
When you live nearby but are bogged down with work and other family obligations and can’t closely monitor your parent’s care.
When you are in the midst of a crisis and need a skilled professional to help you out of the tangle.

An Aging Life Care Professional will meet with you and your loved one to assess your situation and develop a customized plan of resources and options which support the care your parent needs. They know how to access entitlements which can help cover certain costs and will help you strategize the best way to finance the necessary care.

Above all, Aging Life Care is a caring field. Those who are drawn to this profession offer their assessment skills, professional knowledge, emotional support, and compassion.

No one should have to navigate the world of elder care alone. If you need assistance with your parent or loved one, reach out to an Aging Life Care Professional near you.

About the author: Trish is in her tenth year of providing Aging Life Care management services and is the Founder and President of Peace Aging Life Experts, LLC in Flanders, New Jersey. You can email Trish at trish@peaceagingcare.com or contact her through her website at www.peaceagingcare.com.

White House Conference on Aging Monday, July 13th 10:00am – 4:30pm ET